While I have not been a Hillary Clinton backer for a long time, I have found it very exciting to see such a strong, brilliant, almost supernaturally energetic woman campaigning for the presidency.
I have also found the sexism in media coverage pretty thoroughly heartbreaking.
It’s been strange for me to walk the line of defending powerful women, while observing the hard truth that the reason HRC is where she is is in no small part due to the fact that she’s figured out how to play the old boys’ power game better than most men. (Is this the progressive vision feminism has worked for? I wonder. ) How else to interpret her gas-tax holiday pandering, or her “obliterate Iran” bluster?
While it seems impossible for her to capture the nomination at this point, the resurgence of sexism and disrespect in the calls for her to end her campaign have again raised my hackles. The theme of “Die, witch!” (think Wizard of Oz) recurring in commentaries shouting for her to get out of the way has left me feeling pretty bleak about our gender politics in a political season when even our female candidate is expected to have “testicular fortitude.”
What should progressive power look like in a moment when so much is at stake?
And are we at a political crossroads when, ironically, a male candidate may be able to afford to be more feminist than a female candidate can be?
1 comments:
I know what you mean. I was on the fence for a long time, until I heard Hillary speak in person and really understood just how close her her positions were to my issues. She won me over that day.
At the same time, I am aware that I seem to feel more comfortable with Hillary, despite the fact that I believe we may get more of the old school political game play whereas, with Barack, there's more of an unknown quality to him that doesn't make feel as comfortable.
The difference in the treatment of the candidates is disturbing.
I think the face of progressive politics is Barack (with fingers crossed a bit). I won't cast a vote on the basis of race or gender but I can't help thinking that the dream team would still be an amazing thing. I would prefer it be Clinton/Obama but it does look like there's an end of the line coming for HRC and an Obama/Clinton ticket would work for me. I think having Hillary on board would give me a more stable feeling about Obama.
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